Stan and I spent 10 terrific days on The Kona Coast, The Big Island of Hawaii, in September.
This island is where my family lived for 8 years in the 80's. We were busy everyday, driving around in our little Ford Focus rental car, which by the way, got 34 MPH. Wow.
I had an itinerary in mind for our visit, and we pretty much stuck to it.
The evening we arrived, we were met at Huggos on the Rocks www.huggos.com , right on the water in downtown Kailua-Kona, by Jenny and Dain, friends from 1979. Jenny and I worked in an OB/GYN clinic, and have kept in touch over the years. I was also a patient there while expecting Melissa. We had such a great time, and Stan enjoyed their company as well. She is a kind and giving person, with a very infectious laugh that I just love. She greeted each of us with fragrant plumeria, pikake, and cymbidium orchid leis, & Kona Coffee. We had some great tropical drinks and "pu pus", which are appetizers. That evening there were hula dancers and Hawaiian music. What a way to begin a vacation.
The evening we arrived, we were met at Huggos on the Rocks www.huggos.com , right on the water in downtown Kailua-Kona, by Jenny and Dain, friends from 1979. Jenny and I worked in an OB/GYN clinic, and have kept in touch over the years. I was also a patient there while expecting Melissa. We had such a great time, and Stan enjoyed their company as well. She is a kind and giving person, with a very infectious laugh that I just love. She greeted each of us with fragrant plumeria, pikake, and cymbidium orchid leis, & Kona Coffee. We had some great tropical drinks and "pu pus", which are appetizers. That evening there were hula dancers and Hawaiian music. What a way to begin a vacation.
We also drove around the island to Kilauea volcano, which is an active one, but of course no lava flow the day we were there. Other attractions, Akaka Falls, Mauna Loa macademia nut factory, Hilo Farmers Market, sugar cane fields, rain forest, anthurium farms, coffee farms, the black sand beach and miles of beautiful coastline.
On Wednesday, Sheryll and Guy (more old friends we met in La Maz class in 1980), took us to the Kona Village Luau http://www.konavillage.com/ (she also has the "spirit of Aloha" in her) I have to say it is the best one I have ever attended, (and I have seen a lot), it told the story of old Hawaii and the dancers and music were exceptional. The food was authentic, from Kaulua Pig (which means the pork is cooked in burlap, buried in the ground with hot lava rocks on top to cook it. The meat is covered in ti (tea) leaves, which are long green leaves. Other authentic foods were served buffet style, chicken long rice, lau lau, lomi lomi salmon, poi, fish, turkey, white rice, haupia coconut (pudding) which the local people eat, 3 times a day, fresh fruits, and purple sweet potatoes, Oh, and of course Mai Tais! It was great visiting with them also. Everyone loved Stan.
We discovered a few new beachs, Stan swam with the turtles and snorkled and used the boogie board too. Not me, I am not a fan of the water, so I sat on the beach and read magazines, very relaxing.
We ended our vacation with a sunset/booze cruise where the food was good, music excellant, and the Mai Tais were flowing and going down easily! We danced into the sunset, doing the Macarena, a Conga Line, and shaking our booties, till I tore my achilles tendon. 18 days later I am still in an air cast! I guess I am not a young chick any more!
We are still talking about the fantastic Hawaiian vacation, and we hope to journey back again in the near future.
